CN1930931A - Control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The control device with parallel plug feed wires is characterized in that the plug (2) is contacted in such a way that electronic components (5) can be used to equip the largest possible area of the bottom surface of the printed circuit board (1), and the largest possible area of the multilayer printed circuit board (1) can also be equipped with printed wires (6) for connecting these electronic components (5). This is achieved by connecting the first part (1.1) of the printed circuit board (1) to the second part (1.2) carrying the plug-in connector (2) via a bending region (1.3). In this case, the first and second parts (1.1 and 1.2) have at least four layers, while the bending region (1.3) has at least two layers.

Description

controlling device

The invention relates to a control device, in particular to a control device for a motor vehicle having a housing in which a multilayer printed circuit board is accommodated.

Designs of control devices with parallel plug feeders are known, but these design have considerable space requirements due to their design. In parallel plug feeders, the plug connectors are arranged on the end face of the housing of the control device such that the engagement direction of the plug-in connectors runs parallel to the bottom plate of the housing. This construction has proven to be advantageous due to the reduced construction height.

On the one hand it is known (DE 37 33 072 A1) to use plug-in connectors in which the plug-in contacts (Steckerkontakt) are bent such that they are on the one hand perpendicular to the plane of the printed circuit board, And due to the bending of the contact pins, the engagement direction of the plug extends parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board.

It has been found to be disadvantageous with this known construction that the region in which the plug contacts between the connector and the printed circuit board run cannot be equipped with electrical or electronic components, and therefore this part of the printed circuit board cannot be used.

Since the installation space allowed to be taken up by control devices is getting smaller and smaller, the necessary components have to be arranged on the part of the printed circuit board which is reduced by the plug-in connectors. This places great demands on the printed circuit board and on the layout of the circuit arrangement.

Another known possibility for realizing parallel or perpendicular plug feeders consists in laminating flexible printed circuit boards (so-called flexible films) onto a fixed base plate, usually an aluminum plate, and the connection between printed circuit boards and plug-in Bend area between connectors. Such structures are known, for example, from DE 43 03 908 A1, EP 0 706 311 B1 or US 6,655,017 B1. In this case, however, it has proven to be disadvantageous that only two-layer flexible printed circuit board foils are available and that, on the other hand, only one side can be equipped by lamination to a rigid board. This in turn increases the floor requirements of the circuit arrangement and does not have advantages over plug-in connectors with bent plug contacts.

Flexible films are also not suitable for use with modern microcontrollers, since at least four or more layers of printed circuit boards are required here. The use of a flexible film is also not suitable for contacting the plug-in connector with a plurality of connection pins. The number of connection pins is limited due to its two-layer structure.

Otherwise, plug-in connectors can only be soldered with flexible films. Flexible foils are not suitable for pressing into the contact pins, so a reliable contact with the pressing-in contacts must be dispensed with.

A further disadvantage of control devices constructed with flexible printed circuit board foils follows from the fact that the circuit arrangement is susceptible to interference with respect to electromagnetic compatibility (EMV) due to the lack of a shielding layer.

Another known possibility for connecting a multilayer printed circuit board to a plug-in connector is that the multilayer printed circuit board and the plug-in connector are connected via plugged or soldered cables (US 4,858,071A) . In this case, however, the logic signals which are mainly distributed on the inner layers of the multilayer printed circuit board must be guided into the outer layers of the printed circuit board. However, this so-called disassembly also requires space on the printed circuit board. This position is generally greater than the required position for the bent plug pins. In the plugged-in connection, the additional plug-in connector in turn requires additional area and volume in the device, so that no installation space is gained here.

A plug-in connector is here a component that enables the connection of electrical conductors and is designed for making and/or breaking a connection with mating mating parts. A plug-in connector is a device that is not allowed to be plugged or separated when it is used in accordance with regulations (under voltage conditions). The plug-in connector itself consists of a plug-in connector housing and a contact face or plug contact. However, a plug-in connector here is a plug-in device, that is to say a device that permits plugging or disconnection under voltage or load conditions during the intended use.

The object of the present invention is to create a control device and a method for producing a control device that provide more space for electrical and/or electronic components on the same base surface.

This object is solved according to the invention by a control device having the features of claim 1 and by a method for producing a control device having the features of claim 6 .

The control device has a housing, a single-piece multilayer printed circuit board and plug-in connectors. The printed circuit board has a first part equipped with electrical and/or electronic components, a second part electrically and mechanically connected to the plug-in connector and a third part connecting the first and second parts of the multilayer printed circuit board. This third part is a bending area, which is configured in such a way that the second part of the one-piece printed circuit board can be bent in such a way that the plug-in connector can be arranged in the groove of the housing which is therefore provided for this purpose (Ausnehmung). The first and second parts of the printed circuit board have in this case at least four layers and the third part of the printed circuit board has two layers.

A metal coating applied to the carrier material is to be understood here as a layer of a printed circuit board. In this case, the carrier material can be applied both on one side and on both sides. A layer of the printed circuit board can include conductor tracks and/or ground and supply planes.

This structure offers the advantage that the multilayer printed circuit board is connected via the multilayer bending region to the likewise multilayer connection region for the plug-in connector. In this case, the contacts of the plug-in connector are perpendicular to the second part of the printed circuit board. This arrangement further increases the portion of the bottom surface of the printed circuit board on which the electrical and/or electronic components can be arranged.

In the third part of the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is flexible or bendable. Here, "flexible" means that the printed circuit board roughly returns to its original shape after bending without hindrance. "Bendable" means that the printed circuit board can be bent without damage and, after being bent, remains to a large extent in the shape into which it has been bent.

The contacts of the plug-in connectors are press-fit contacts. For electrical and mechanical contacting between the contacts of the plug-in connector and the printed circuit board, these press-in contacts are pressed into metalized recesses of the second part of the printed circuit board.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the first part of the printed circuit board, therefore, no conductor tracks are arranged for direct connection between the components and the contacts of the plug-in connector. The connection between the electrical and/or electronic component and the contacts of the plug-in connector takes place via the conductor tracks of the second and third part of the printed circuit board.

The first part of the printed circuit board can also be equipped on both sides, thereby almost doubling the area of the printed circuit board equipped with electrical and/or electronic components.

The printed circuit board is preferably a rigid-flex printed circuit board. The rigid-flex printed circuit board has a flexible carrier material (core), for example made of polyimide, at least in the flexible part of the printed circuit board. The core is provided with a metal coating on both sides and in the rigid area (here the first and second part of the printed circuit board) with a rigid carrier material made of eg fiberglass and epoxy resin (FR4) Further layers made of (base material) are also provided with a metallic coating. These layers can each be connected via an adhesive layer (prepreg).

Therefore, the printed circuit board constructed in this way is bent in a flexible part consisting of layers with a flexible intermediate layer, a polyimide core, so that the contact elements of the plug-in connector are parallel to the printed circuit in the bent state The first part of the board extends from the PCB plane.

In a second preferred embodiment, in the area to be used as the third section (and therefore as the bending area), the printed circuit board is machined in such a way that the number of layers is reduced in this section and also The printed circuit board thickness is reduced and an area (ie the third part of the printed circuit board) is created which can be bent at least once.

In a third preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board is produced from a so-called semi-flexible material. The semi-flexible printed circuit board allows only one bending and can then only be required statically. The base materials are proprietary resins and polyimides (eg CEM1).

Any combination of these above-mentioned embodiments is also possible.

The printed circuit board can furthermore have a second bending region which is arranged on the side of the second part of the printed circuit board facing away from the first bending region and which in the bent state is approximately parallel to the A fourth printed circuit board portion of the first portion follows the second bending region. By means of this substantially "U"-shaped arrangement of the printed circuit board, the equippable area of the first and fourth parts of the printed circuit board is further increased. In this case, the two rigid first and second parts of the printed circuit board are then connected via the flexible area of the printed circuit board and via the likewise rigid part of the printed circuit board which is arranged on the plug-in connector. four parts. A simple space-saving electrical connection is thus formed between the first and fourth parts of the printed circuit board.

On the second part of the printed circuit board, which is electrically and mechanically connected to the plug-in connector, components can also be arranged, especially DC blocking capacitors, which serve to improve electromagnetic compatibility and serve as protection against electrostatic discharge. For the DC-blocking capacitors, this results in the advantage that the capacitors are arranged directly on the plug contacts, that is to say at the point of their greatest effect and also in the region of the first part of the printed circuit board Bottom not required.

In this case, in principle, a distinction is made between two forms of implementation. On the one hand, there are solid press-in contacts, which are solidly formed in the press-in area and in which the force necessary for the press-in connection is obtained by deformation of the printed circuit board perforation , a solid press-in contact is pressed into the printed circuit board through-hole. Elastic contact elements, on the other hand, are elastically configured in the press-fit region and in which the force necessary for the press-fit connection is obtained by deformation of the elastic press-fit contact.

Thus, after equipping the printed circuit board, the thus configured plug-in connector with press-in contacts can be electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit board. Thus, for example, a fully equipped printed circuit board, to which the decoupling capacitors have also been applied, can first be placed in a housing, then the housing is closed, and the second part of the printed circuit board is then pressed from the outside. Plug-in connector.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to schematic drawings. in:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the control device of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows the printed circuit board as it is inserted into the control device according to FIG. 1 , and

Figures 3a, b and c show various embodiments of a printed circuit board of a control device.

FIG. 1 shows a control unit, for example an engine control unit or a transmission control unit for a motor vehicle. Control devices for the engine and transmission of a motor vehicle or for other combinations of control and regulation functions are also conceivable. The control unit has a housing 3 consisting here of a housing base 3.1 and a housing cover 3.2. The housing formed by base plate 3.1 and cover 3.2 has an opening 10 on the front side into which the plug-in connector 2 can be inserted. The inserted plug-in connector closes the housing.

Between the bottom plate 3.1 and the cover 3.2, a filling (Dichtung) 11 is inserted in the groove, in this case both a prefabricated filling of synthetic material and a solidified or non-solidified liquid filler. A filler material 2.11 is likewise inserted between the housing 3 and the plug-in connector 2 .

The printed circuit board 1 , which is arranged inside the housing 3 in the installed state, is electrically and mechanically connected to the plug-in connector 2 .

The multilayer printed circuit board 1 has a rigid first part 1 . 1 which is at least partially equipped on both sides with components 5 . The likewise rigid second part 1 . 2 of the printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to the plug-in connector 2 . The third part 1.3 is arranged between the first part 1.1 and the second part 1.2 of the printed circuit board 1 and electrically and mechanically connects the first part 1.1 and the second part 1.2.

This third part 1.3 is bendable, that is to say that in order to fit the printed circuit board 1 into the housing 3 the second part 1.2 with the plug-in connector 2 can be bent at least once into this part 1.3 so that the plug-in The type connector 2 is inserted into the opening 10 of the end face of the housing.

Alternatively, the bent printed circuit board 1 can first be inserted into the housing 3 and the plug-in connector 2 inserted into the opening 10 before or after closing the housing, ie after mounting the base plate 3.1 and the cover 3.2. In this case, if the contact pin 2.1 of the plug-in connector 2 and the recess in the second area 1.2 of the printed circuit board 1 are configured such that the contact pin 2.1 can be simply pressed into the printed circuit board 1 It is advantageous to form an electrical and mechanical connection between the contact pins 2.1 and the printed circuit board 1.2.

In areas where the heat has to be dissipated due to the high power losses of the electrical components 5, it is advantageous to connect the second side of the printed circuit board 1.1 directly to the bottom plate 3.1 of the housing 3 and thus create a space for heat dissipation. A good thermally conductive path for the heat generated by the dissipated power. Base plate 3.1 thus functions as a cooler.

In the region of the first part 1 . 1 of the printed circuit board 1 in which it is equipped on both sides, the base plate 3 . 2 has a recess 12 . Components equipped on the side of the printed circuit board 1 facing the base plate 3 . 1 protrude into this recess 12 . The area of the first part 1.1 which is equipped only on one side lies flat on the base plate 3.1, whereby the thermal contact resistance between the printed circuit board 1 and the base plate 3.1 is optimized in this area.

Here, the printed circuit board 1 is implemented as a four-layer printed circuit board. However, only two conductor tracks 6 of the upper outer layer of the printed circuit board 1 are shown schematically in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the printed circuit board 1 connected to the plug-in connector 2 . The side of the printed circuit board 1 facing the bottom plate 3 . 1 of the housing 3 is shown there. The underside of the first part 1 . 1 of the printed circuit board 1 again has the electrical components 5 and two printed circuit boards 6 . In this case, the conductor tracks 6 are shown by way of example for all conductor tracks which are arranged on the lower outer layer of the first part 1 . 1 of the printed circuit board 1 .

On the side of the second part 1.2 of the printed circuit board 1 facing away from the plug-in connector 2, a capacitor 7 is shown (see also FIG. 3b), which is connected to the first contact pin 2.1 on the one hand and to the The second contact pin 2.1 is either electrically connected to ground and acts as a so-called bypass capacitor. Capacitor 7 improves the electromagnetic compatibility (EMV) of the control device and protects the circuit from unwanted electrostatic discharge (ESD).

It has proven to be particularly advantageous to arrange the capacitors 7 as close as possible to the contact pin 2 . 1 , since the capacitors 7 exert their maximum effect there close to the source of the disturbance. Components such as capacitors 7 can also be fastened on the side of the second part 1.2 facing the plug-in connector 2 (see FIG. 3 c ).

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show three exemplary embodiments of printed circuit boards 1, as these printed circuit boards 1 can be used in control devices. Here, the printed circuit board 1 is shown as a section along the printed circuit board 1 in the unbent state, which allows for simple assembly with electrical and/or electronic components, since it can be assembled without additional effort by conventional automatic Assembly machines (Bestueckungsautomate) to easily equip unbent, flat printed circuit boards.

For the sake of simplicity here, only the plug-in connector 2 with its contact pins 2.1 and the contacting of these contact pins 2.1 with the individual conductor tracks 6 of the printed circuit board 1 are shown schematically.

The points in FIGS. 3 a , 3 b and 3 c are electrical connections to the respective conductor track 6.1 , 6.2 , 6.3 or 6.4 .

In section 1.1 the printed circuit board 1 has four layers. These layers each have a metal coating (here conductor tracks 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4). Three layers of printed circuit board material 8 . 1 , 8 . 2 and 8 . 3 are arranged between the conductor tracks 6 . The printed circuit board material 8 is in particular a fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (FR4). An electrically insulating adhesive layer, not shown, is arranged in each case between the printed circuit board material 8 and the conductor tracks 6 . This structure also applies to the part 1 . 2 of the printed circuit board in which the plug-in connector 2 is arranged. Arranged between the regions 1.1 and 1.2 is a third bendable part 1.3 which in FIG. 3a has two grooves 9.1 and 9.2. On the one hand, these grooves 9.1 and 9.2 have already been emptied during production, so that only two-layer conductor tracks 6.2 and 6.3 with core 8.2 are located in the part 1..3. It should be noted in this case that the material of the core (for example polyimide) allows the printed circuit board 1 in part 1.3 to be bent at least once. For equipping, the printed circuit board 1 constructed in this way has supports 13 in the section 1 . 3 , which there reinforce the printed circuit board 1 up to the actual bending and thus simplify the handling of the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the grooves 9 . 1 and 9 . 2 can also be introduced subsequently by machining after production of the printed circuit board 1 , which is initially produced in four layers, by removing two more layers.

FIG. 3 b shows a further embodiment of a printed circuit board 1 with a plug-in connector 2 . Here, identical or similar elements have been provided with the same reference symbols as in the embodiment according to Fig. 3a. However, the printed circuit board 1 in FIG. 3b has only one groove 9 in the part 1.3, so that in the part 1.3 the outer layer 6.1 and the inner layer 6.2 connect the first part 1.1 and the second part 1.2 of the printed circuit board 1 . The recess 9 can likewise be left out during production or subsequently removed by machining. The one-sided recess 9 also brings processing advantages, since the printed circuit board 1 has to be processed from only one side.

Figure 3c shows a further embodiment of a printed circuit board. Here, the two parts 1 . 1 , which can be equipped on both sides, are connected to the part 1 . 2 of the printed circuit board 1 carrying the plug-in connector 2 via a bending area 1 . 3 . For assembly, the printed circuit board 1 is bent into a "U" shape, so that the parts 1 . 1 approximately overlap one another and the contact pins 2 . The part 1.2 both connects the component arranged on the first part 1.1 with the contact pin 2.1. This part 1 . 2 is additionally also used to connect the two first parts 1 . 1 of the printed circuit board 1 . The recesses 9.1 and 9.2 are embodied here as illustrated in FIG. 3b, but can also be implemented according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3a.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 c , both three or more rows of plug-in connectors and the electrical connection of the part 1 . 1 of the printed circuit board 1 can be implemented via the multilayer part 1 .

Since the connection of the parts 1.1 and 1.2 takes place both via the outer layer of the printed circuit board 1 and via the inner layer 6, if the rigid conductor tracks are connected via flexible conductor tracks arranged by means of solder or other contact means, The space requirement for detaching the conductor tracks can then be reduced, as may be necessary, for example.

If the cutout 9 is produced by means of a machining method, the printed circuit board 1 can initially be equipped conventionally, since the printed circuit board 1 does not yet have flexible or bendable parts at this point. The groove 9 is then formed in a working step after the assembly by, for example, milling a single-sided groove 9 or, as shown in FIG. 3a, double-sided grooves 9.1 and 9.2 into the printed circuit board 3a middle.

In FIGS. 3 b and 3 c the arrangement of components (here capacitors 7 ) on the second part 1 . 2 of the printed circuit board 1 is likewise shown schematically.

Claims (6)

1. control appliance, in particular for the control appliance of automobile, this control appliance has

-shell (3),

The multilayer board of-single-piece (1), wherein, layer have at least one be applied on the carrier material the washing layer and

-described printed circuit board (PCB) has the first (1.1) that is equipped with electric component and/or electronic unit (5), and wherein, this first (1.1) has at least four layers (6,8),

Wherein, described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) has second portion (1.2), this second portion (1.2) have equally at least four layers (6,8) and with the electric and mechanical connection of contact pilotage (2.1) of plug-in connector (2),

-described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) has third part (1.3), this third part (1.3) connects the first (1.1.) and the second portion (1.2) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1), and this third part (1.3) has at least two layers (6,8), wherein, described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) is flexible in this third part (1.3) or is flexible at least, and

-wherein, the contact pilotage (2.1) of described plug-in connector (2) is connected with the printed conductor (6) of the second portion (1.2) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) by being pressed into connection.

2. by the described control appliance of claim 1, it is characterized in that, on described second portion (1.2), arranged parts (7), described parts (7) and contact pilotage (2.1) and/or be electrically connected with the printed conductor (6) of described second portion (1.2).

3. by one of claim 1 or 2 described control appliance, it is characterized in that the first (1.1) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) is equipped with electric component and/or electronic unit (5) at bilateral at least in part.

4. by the described control appliance of one of claim 1 to 3, it is characterized in that the printed conductor (6.1) of the second portion (1.2) by described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) electrically connects at least two contact pilotages (2.1) of described plug-in connector (2).

5. the method that is used for production control equipment, this method has following step:

-utilize electric component and/or electronic unit (5) to equip the first (1.1) of printed circuit board (PCB) (1),

-described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) is inserted in the base plate (3.1) of shell (3); Wherein, By in being placed to described shell (3) time or the bending before being placed in the described shell (3); The second portion (1.2) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) is so bent in the third part (1.3) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1); To show less than the angle of 180 degree, especially to arrange the first (1.1) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) and the plane of second portion (1.2) with the angle of about 90 degree

-plug-in connector is fixed on the second portion (1.2) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1), and

-utilize lid (3.2) to seal described shell (3),

Wherein, being electrically connected by being pressed between the printed conductor (6) of the second portion (1.2) of contact pilotage (2.1) and described printed circuit board (PCB) (1) set up.

6. by the described method that is used for production control equipment of claim 5, it is characterized in that, at fixing described plug-in connector (2) before, electronic unit and/or electric component (7) are fixed on the second portion (1.2) of described printed circuit board (PCB) (1).

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